Dunn-Edwards selected its 2019 Color of the Year – Spice of Life, a dark, browned, fire brick red with orange undertones.
 
“Spice of Life is an outgoing, confident hue that adds drama and stimulates the senses,” said Sara McLean, color expert and stylist for Dunn-Edwards. “It’s a celebration of what makes life interesting and exciting. Spice of Life makes a bold statement with a melding of diverse and global cultural influences.”

McLean selected Spice of Life after extensive research on color trends in everything from art, hospitality, and fashion to global events and local street culture.

“In these always-connected times, we start to crave real, genuine connections with the earth and with each other,” McLean said. “These feelings are reflected in a movement away from cooler hues toward more earth-inspired color reminiscent of Naturalist motifs, Bohemian moods, the great American West and an anticipation of exploring the red planet, Mars. These organic, autumnal and life-affirming hues, such as Spice of Life, are strong, authentic and full of humanity.”

This exotic color is represented in Sojourn, one of the Dunn-Edwards 2019 color and design trend stories. It’s a palette that celebrates layers of cultures and eras that blend harmoniously, combining modesty and the grandiose. 

Spice of Life is inspired by nostalgic journeys back in time. The name comes from William Cowper’s poem “The Task” (1785) which includes the verse, “Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.” The renewal of folklore aesthetics and the revival of interest in the American naturalist painters of the 19^th and 20^th centuries, such as Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O’Keeffe and Edward Hopper, are also influences.

Spice of Life is a strong and vibrant punch of color, adds depth and intensity to color palettes, and displays an elegance to design, working well with both cool and warm tones. With nature as a color guide, McLean recommends pairing Spice of Life with a range of other autumnal hues such as clay, sunny yellow and deep moss green. Try Sorrel Felt DET624 or Peppered Moss DEA169.

For modern or contemporary interiors, McLean suggests pairing Spice of Life with a crisp white, cool gray and black. For traditional interiors, she advises trying Spice of Life with khaki, cream and deep blue. Pair Kiln Dried DET692 or Blue Suede Shoe DEA190 with Spice of Life.